Archive · 13 Dec 2025
CSMVS Gallery Highlights Ancient Global Connections
A new gallery at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai shows how ancient civilizations like the Harappans, Egyptians, and Chinese were connected through trade and ideas.
The gallery has a model of the Harappan city of Dholavira, which had advanced water management and building techniques.
It also shows how the Egyptians believed in the afterlife and buried models of farmers and animals in tombs.
The Chinese exhibits show their skill in making porcelain and jade artefacts.
The gallery explains how writing was invented for record-keeping and how trade spread ideas like Buddhism.
It also has a replica of the Rosetta Stone, which helped decode Egyptian hieroglyphs.
The gallery is a result of a global collaboration and will be open for three years.
The new gallery at CSMVS, titled 'Networks of the Past: A Study Gallery of India and the Ancient World,' showcases 300 archaeological objects from 15 institutions.
The gallery highlights the advanced planning and sustainability of the Harappan civilization, including their water management systems and standardized construction techniques.
Exhibits include a model of the Harappan city of Dholavira, Egyptian mummified cats, Chinese jade artefacts, and a replica of the Rosetta Stone.
The gallery explores the interconnectedness of ancient civilizations through trade, shared beliefs, and cultural exchange, challenging isolated narratives of antiquity.
The project is a result of a four-year collaboration between CSMVS and seven international museums, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
- Who
- Curated by CSMVS Director General Sabyasachi Mukherjee, advised by Neil MacGregor and Mahrukh Tarapor, with contributions from over 100 experts.
- What
- A new educational gallery showcasing ancient global connections through archaeological objects.
- When
- Inaugurated on a Friday, to remain on display for three years.
- Where
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India.
- Why
- To trace long-distance trade, shared beliefs, and cultural exchange among ancient civilizations, challenging isolated, nation-bound narratives of antiquity.
- Gallery Name
- Networks of the Past: A Study Gallery of India and the Ancient World
- Location
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai
- Inauguration Date
- Friday (unspecified date)
- Duration
- 3 years
- Collaborating Museums
- 7 international and 8 Indian museums
- Exhibits
- 300 archaeological objects from 15 institutions
- Key Civilizations
- Indus, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greco-Roman worlds
- Notable Features
- Harappan city model, Egyptian mummified cat, Chinese jade artefacts, Rosetta Stone replica
